FIRST EVER REPATRIATION OF A CONFISCATED PET PRIMATE

[Guest guest]

PRESS RELEASE

 

4 May 2004

 

 

 

FIRST EVER REPATRIATION OF A CONFISCATED PET PRIMATE

 

 

SINGAPORE 4 MAY - In May 2003, acting on information provided by the

International Primate Protection League (IPPL) and the Animal Concerns Research

and Education Society (Acres), the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority, assisted by

Acres, confiscated a vervet monkey illegally kept as a pet in Singapore. This

monkey had been illegally imported from South Africa.

 

 

 

It is illegal to keep primates as pets in Singapore. Furthermore, under the

Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, it is illegal to import this species

without a permit. The possession of any illegally imported primate species is

also an offence.

 

 

 

Each year, thousands of animals are captured from the wild for the illegal pet

trade. Removing these animals from their natural habitat damages the fragile

ecosystem as well as threatens the species' existence. More than half of these

animals die during transportation and the surviving animals mostly end up living

in bad conditions or are mistreated.

 

 

 

At a young age, this monkey named " Blue " (now approximately 6 years old) had

been forcefully separated from his family, and sent to live in a cage far from

his home.

 

 

 

Acres has been working to find a new home for this monkey where he can once

again associate with other vervet monkeys. Blue today, makes his journey back

home to the African continent, to the Munda Wanga Sanctuary in Zambia. This is

the first repatriation of a confiscated pet primate in Singapore.

 

 

 

Blue will be living in a newly built, large, open topped, electrified enclosure,

with other vervet monkeys.

 

 

 

Acres extends our appreciation to the Singapore Zoo, for taking care of 'Blue'

the vervet monkey and helping with the logistics necessary for his return flight

to Zambia.

 

 

 

Stichting AAP is the principal sponsor for this repatriation. Additional

sponsors include IPPL, Gorilla Haven and Acres.

 

 

 

Acres will continue our efforts in addressing the illegal wildlife trade in

Singapore.

 

 

 

Contact:

 

Louis Ng (President)

 

Email: louis

 

Handphone: +65 9796 8592

 

 

 

- ends -

 

 

 

Notes to editors

 

 

 

1. Blue will fly on board flight SQ406 to Johannesburg and flight SA62 to

Lusaka, together with an Acres personnel.

 

2. Acres is a non-profit organisation aimed at fostering respect and

compassion for all animals. Acres's approach to raising animal welfare issue is

to focus on education and back up our advocacy with scientific clarity accrued

through research. Using our findings, we will inform the public and work towards

synergistic partnerships with the authorities and related parties to improve

animal welfare.

 

3. Munda Wanga Sanctuary provides home for orphaned and injured animals

from around the World that are indigenous to the continent and preferably

Zambia.

 

4. The vervet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops) is listed under Appendix II of

CITES. Appendix II includes all species which although not necessarily now

threatened with extinction may become so unless trade in specimens of such

species is subject to strict regulation in order to avoid utilization

incompatible with their survival.